Control mechanism for coin-operated devices



ATiENT OFFCE.

HERBERT s. Mints, or orrrciioo, ILLINOIS.,

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR G01N-OPERATED DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 21, 192] Application filed Ivarch 27, 17920. Serial No. 369,341.

T 0 all whom t may concern.' Y

Be it known that l, HERBERT S. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Control Mechanism for Coin- Operated Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to control mechanisms for coin operated devices, and more particularly to such mechanism where in the movement of a coin acts toclose an electric circuit by means of which the operation of the device to which the mechanism is applied is effected. The invention will be fully understood from the following description, 'as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in whichmk Figure 1 is a side elevation of the control mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, viewed from the left side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the device as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a vertical transverse section on the line 1 -4; of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device.

Referring more particularly to the ldrawings, the numeral 10 indicates a supporting bracket, bent at right angles at the point 11. This bracket is integral with a clamp 12 which supports a cylindrical guide 13, the top of which is slightly enlarged or hoppershaped. Below the termination of this guide a tongue 1li extends vertically downward, this tongue being preferably formed integrally with the clamp member 12. in arm 15, which may also be formed integrally with the clamp member 12, extends parallel to the portion of the supporting member 10 on the opposite side of the cylindrical drum, and a horizontal shaft 16 extends between these parallel members. The clamp member 12 is provided with two arms 17, 17, which embrace the guide 13 near its top and terminate in outwardly projecting ears 18, 18 through which passes the screw 19 by which the clamp may be tightened. A plate 20, normally substantially horizontal in position, is rigidly mounted on the shaft 16 and projects under the guide 13, the end of the plate engaging the lowerend of the support member 12 at approximately the point where tongue 14 begins, and a spring 21 is attached at one end to the plate and at the other end to the screw 18, said spring tending to hold the sition.

A plate 22 of ber or other insulating material is rigidly secured to the arm 15 of the clamping member 12, and at its rear end a contact arm 23 is pivotally secured by means of a screw or bolt 24. A metallic plate 25 is secured to the screw 24 between two nuts 26 and 27, and a connecting wire 23 is soldered to this and to the arm 23 to insure electrical conduction. A third nut 29 on the screw 24s may serve for the attachment of a conductor leading to a source of current or to the device to be operated. A lug 29, preferably formed integrally with the arm 23, engages the insulation plate 22, thereby limiting the downward movement of the arm 23. A contact member or plate 30 is plate 20 in its uppermost posecured to the arm 23, for example, by soldering, at a point near its end. The shaft 16 upon which the plate 20 is mounted prolectsbeyond the supporting arm 15 and upon its end is mounted an eccentric member 31, preferably of metal, or other conductive material. This member does not normally engage the contact plate 30 on the arm 23, but is in a position to do so when the shaft 16 is partially rotated.

In operation, a coin inserted into the control mechanism passes down the chute 32, dropping into the cylindrical guide 13. It falls upon the plate 20, its momentum overcoming the force of the spring 2l and causing the plate 2O t0 move downwardly, thereby rotating the shaft 16. The tongue 14 orevents the immediate discharge of the coin from the plate 20 and causes it to be retained upon the latter for an appreciable interval of time, that is, until the plate has moved downwardly to provide a sufficient distance between its end and the tongue 14 for the discharge of the coin. The rotation of the shaft 16 is thus continued for an appreciable interval of time and, as will be noted a snap contact of the members 30 and 31 is thereby prevented. The rotation of the shaft 16 causes the eccentric portion of the contact member 31 to engage the contact member 30 and as the contact member is grounded by its connection with the supporting member 10 the circuit through the control mechanism is completed. The pivotal mounting of the arm 23 permits c011- tinued contact of members 30 and 31 without jamming or checking the movement of the shaft 16 and plate 20. The discharge of Although this invention has been de-V scribed in connection with certain details of Y apparatus specifically set forth, it isnot intended that these details shall be regarded as limitations upon the scopeof the invention, except in so far as included in the accompanying claims.

What I claim asneW and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a control mechanism for coin-operated devices, a coin guide, a pivoted plate closing said guide, an eccentric contact member attached to the pivot of said plate and movable therewith, a lever member pivotvided With a contact surface engageable by said eccentric contact member on movement of the said plate and capable of being Y raised by the eccentric contact member, and a spring constantly exerting a force tending to hold said pivoted late in its normal position, closing the gui e.

2. In a control mechanism for coin-operated devices, a coin guide, a pivoted plate closing said guide, an eccentric contact member attached to the pivot of said plate and movable therewith, an insulating plate se# cured to the guide, a lever member pivoted to the insulating plate, said lever member being provided with a contact surface engageable by said eccentric contact member on movement of the plate and capable of being raised by the eccentric contact member, and a spring constantly exerting a force tending to hold said pivot plate in its normal position, closing the guide.

HERBERT'S. MILLS. 

